How to Walk Pennine Way Day 3: Blackstone Edge Loop

Blackstone Edge is the undisputed highlight of Day 3, serving up wide views west over Rochdale and Manchester. It sits north of the Standedge finish of Day 2 — a neat connection if you’ve already walked the Pennine Way Day 2: Standedge Circular — not that you can see it from here, but you can certainly imagine its “middle‑of‑nowhere” charm.. Ahead lies Calderdale, the equally understated end to Day 3, proving the Pennine Way’s commitment to finishing each stage in places you’d struggle to describe to a friend.

Why This Section Works as a Day Walk

I’ll admit that Day 3 wasn’t my favourite on my own Pennine Way walk. I was unfit, aching from Days 1 and 2- especially after the Pennine Way Day 2: Crowden–Black Hill section – and fully in agreement with the official route description that warns, “By teatime, some will be pig sick of all the reservoirs.” I was. Thoroughly. By mid‑afternoon I’d reached the stage where even a puddle felt like a personal attack.

So why walk this section as a day walk at all? Simple: this route stops before the reservoir fatigue sets in and keeps the good bits — Blackstone Edge and, bizarrely, the strangely uplifting experience of crossing the M62 on a narrow footbridge.

North‑facing view from the M62 footbridge on the Pennine Way with moorland in the distance — **The M62 footbridge** looking north, where the **Pennine Way** delivers one of its strangest highlights: wide moorland views and the novelty of walking above six lanes of traffic.

There’s something oddly life‑affirming about strolling above six lanes of traffic while everyone else is trapped in it. A rare moment where the Pennine Way lets you feel superior.

South‑facing view from the M62 footbridge on the Pennine Way with moorland beyond the motorway — South‑facing view of the **M62 footbridge** on the **Pennine Way**, a memorable moment before the quieter moorland miles resume.

Route Description: From the M62 to Blackstone Edge

Parking is easy, just half a mile off the M62. Heading north, you cross the motorway along one of its more scenic stretches (a phrase I never expected to write), before climbing the pavestones to Blackstone Edge.

Paving stone path climbing towards Blackstone Edge on the Pennine Way near the M62 — The paved path leading up to **Blackstone Edge**, an easy climb from the **M62** with wide moorland views opening ahead.

Stone wind shelter above Green Withens Reservoir near Blackstone Edge on the Pennine Way — **Stone wind shelter above Green Withens Reservoir**, a key landmark on the **Pennine Way** near **Blackstone Edge**.

It’s an easy 1.5 miles to reach 472 metres, where the land drops away almost 300 metres below and you get a sweeping 180‑degree panorama.

Wide 180‑degree moorland views from the summit of Blackstone Edge on the Pennine Way — **Sweeping 180‑degree views from Blackstone Edge**, looking across the moorland drop towards **Rochdale** and **Manchester** on the **Pennine Way**.

Pennine Way Food Stops and Navigation

Rewalking this section on a crisp winter’s day, I managed to lose the trail a few times thanks to a thin layer of snow — the Pennine Way’s way of reminding you who’s in charge — but in warmer weather navigation is straightforward as you descend past disused quarries towards The White House pub.

Aiggin Stone medieval guide stone on the Pennine Way in winter snow near Blackstone Edge — **The Aiggin Stone** on the **Pennine Way** — a 600‑year‑old guide stone that found the route more reliably than I did in the snow.

Day 3 is unusual in Pennine Way terms because it actually offers food options: Nicky’s Food Bar in the car park and the pub a few miles later. On a through‑walk, this is nothing short of miraculous, given the ambiguous end to Day 2 and the general lack of amenities anywhere near the trail. The only danger is eating so enthusiastically that the next climb feels like you’ve strapped an extra rucksack to your stomach.

Reservoirs, Groundhog Day, and Choosing Your Turnaround Point

Beyond the pub, expect company as the trail heads north, parallel to Blackstone Edge and the first reservoir of the day. On my full Pennine Way walk – which I wrote up in my Pennine Way Trip Report: Crowden to Hebden Bridge (Days 1–3) – the miles from here to Hebden Bridge felt endless — a conveyor belt of reservoirs and a view that barely changed, like a moorland version of Groundhog Day but with more wind. But the beauty of a Pennine Way day walk is that you choose your turnaround point.

**Flat moorland path north of Blackstone Edge** on the **Pennine Way** — the point where the view barely changed and I chose to turn back before the next round of reservoirs.

Having planned a circular route dropping west towards Calderbrook, I decided to shave off a few miles and head back south, preferring to stay high and enjoy the panoramic views rather than commit to another round of “guess which reservoir this is.”

Return Route and Final Stretch

Never a fan of out‑and‑backs, I took a parallel trail to Blackstone Edge, detouring off the Pennine Way for about a mile. The temptation to stay on this path was strong, but it curved too far west, so I re‑ascended the Edge — a quick ten‑minute climb, and, for once, without losing my foot (and half my leg) down an invisible hole. A rare victory on these moors.

Rejoining the Pennine Way, I crossed the M62 once more — still strangely enjoyable — and finished a relaxed, satisfying walk in around four hours.

Pennine Way Day 3: Blackstone Edge Circular Route Video

Watch this video on YouTube

Pennine Way Day 3: Blackstone Edge Circular Map

Map shows the **Pennine Way** in light blue and the **Blackstone Edge Circular** in dark blue. Where the lines overlap, the route follows the Pennine Way. Annotation added to illustrate start and end point.
©Crown copyright 2026 Ordnance Survey. Media 003/26.

Blackstone Edge & Pennine Way Circular FAQs

Can you walk the Pennine Way as a series of circular day walks?

Yes. Many sections of the Pennine Way can be walked as circular routes, including this Blackstone Edge loop, which covers the best parts of Day 3 without committing to the long reservoir stretch.

Is the Blackstone Edge circular one of the easier Pennine Way day walks?

It’s one of the more accessible Pennine Way circulars, with an easy climb from the M62, clear pavestones and wide moorland views.

Where can I park for Pennine Way circular walks near the M62?

Parking is half a mile south of Junction 22 off the M62, at Pennine Way, Delph, Littleborough, Sowerby Bridge OL3 5UN. It’s a convenient starting point for short circular walks that follow the Pennine Way.

Are Pennine Way circular walks well signposted?

Most circulars that follow the Pennine Way are easy to navigate in clear weather, thanks to slabs, cairns and National Trail markers. In snow or mist, care is still needed.

What makes this Pennine Way circular different from the full Day 3 route?

This loop includes Blackstone Edge and the M62 footbridge but avoids the long reservoir section towards Hebden Bridge. It also returns you to your car at Pennine Way, Delph (half a mile south of M62 Junction 22), so there’s no point‑to‑point logistics to worry about.